- Reaction score
- 9,260
- Points
- 1,360
Technoviking did a very good job explaining the course
Honestly; its not that bad, I was on last summers course; the RTU and had a blast, especially the last 4 weeks when everything we had learned really came together during the Full Spectrum Ops mod and the live fire attacks...
With that being said you will be tested on the course,
My advice if you want to be successful on the course
1. Get in Shape - so many people couldn't hack the course because they just couldn't physically manage the training
My training that I do - You will not be doing that much running for some reason the CF loves jogging to tell you the truth you would be better served taking your rucksack putting around 60 lbs in it and going for a nice march. I did this for a month and a half before course and it served me well, try to build yourself up so you can do a BFT in about a 1 hour 50 min timeframe, oh and wear boots when you do this, your not going to be using sneakers in the field so why would you wear them for training.
Also, lift weights and lots of them, but by weight lifting I am not talking about bodybuilding weightlifting, aka doing a bi and tri day then stairing at your pecks in the mirror, you should be following an olympic lifting program, i.e. 3 times a week of power lifting 5x5 stronglifts is a good program here is a link http://stronglifts.com/stronglifts-5x5-beginner-strength-training-program/
This type of training will strengthen your core, back and leg muscles, and is a total body workout. Its also super easy to follow, and you will see massive benefits if you do follow it.
2. Know the Basics: The Rest Will Come
Phase III can be pretty simple if you know your basics going into the course, on CAP you learned how to do recce patrols, section attacks, defensive ops, all that good jazz... let me tell you something Phase 3 takes all those concepts you learned and simply puts it on a bigger scale. The Procedure for conducting a Combat Patrol is essentially the same as conducting a recce patrol, the steps are all the same it just instead of using a four man team you now have a platoon, same thing goes for platoon attacks. Practice using a compass before you go on course, read over your weapons PAM's from CAP, review the combat estimate and battle procedure, all of these wonderful training aids and PAMS are available on the DWAN its great so use it. A lot of people didn't review shit all before coming on course and skill fade is a real problem, take the initiative and do a little pre-course prep you will be thankful you did.
3. Have Confidence in Your Ability, Take Everything as a Learning Experience
Ultimately, yes you are being assessed, but you are also there to learn. The Instructors are great and if you show them you have some drive and you want to learn they will help you. The Warrants have a wealth of experience as do the Captains don't be afraid to ask questions. When you do something always have a reason for it, the staff will challenge you to think critically but they are also want you to take charge and show that you can work under pressure.
4. Have FUN with Everything
Have fun with the stuff, take it seriously but play around with it, whenever your doing TEWT's think outside the box, don't just give the staff generic examples from the book play around show them you can think independently. Essentially whenever I do a mission analysis I treat everything as if my platoon is my "Orchestra of Death" and I am the Conductor. The stuff can be fun you just have to make it that way. Also have a laugh with the boys about stuff it really helps everybody get through the rough times.
5. Exercises are Finite, Grow a set, suck it up!
I hated seeing people 4 days into an exercise pull chute and head off to the MIR, firstly it not only f's your buddies over because now they have to pull extra weight but it also cheapens the experience, and you look really bad in front of the staff. Example of the last day of Hasty's I was Wpn's det commander, Mortar, M203, and had a radio because we only had 13 people left to finish off platoon attacks; when i got back a bunch of the other guys had copped out and went to the MIR when in fact basically nothing was wrong with them, they had "trench foot"... everyone had trench foot it rained for seven days. I am not going to rant about it, it is what it is, my advice don't be one of those guys.
Phase 3 is hard you will have struggles, but know this, there have been thousands of other people that have gone through it before you. Army courses are only as hard as you make them for yourself, just show up with good basics, a willingness to listen and learn, good physical fitness, and some good old drive you will do fine.
Honestly; its not that bad, I was on last summers course; the RTU and had a blast, especially the last 4 weeks when everything we had learned really came together during the Full Spectrum Ops mod and the live fire attacks...
With that being said you will be tested on the course,
My advice if you want to be successful on the course
1. Get in Shape - so many people couldn't hack the course because they just couldn't physically manage the training
My training that I do - You will not be doing that much running for some reason the CF loves jogging to tell you the truth you would be better served taking your rucksack putting around 60 lbs in it and going for a nice march. I did this for a month and a half before course and it served me well, try to build yourself up so you can do a BFT in about a 1 hour 50 min timeframe, oh and wear boots when you do this, your not going to be using sneakers in the field so why would you wear them for training.
Also, lift weights and lots of them, but by weight lifting I am not talking about bodybuilding weightlifting, aka doing a bi and tri day then stairing at your pecks in the mirror, you should be following an olympic lifting program, i.e. 3 times a week of power lifting 5x5 stronglifts is a good program here is a link http://stronglifts.com/stronglifts-5x5-beginner-strength-training-program/
This type of training will strengthen your core, back and leg muscles, and is a total body workout. Its also super easy to follow, and you will see massive benefits if you do follow it.
2. Know the Basics: The Rest Will Come
Phase III can be pretty simple if you know your basics going into the course, on CAP you learned how to do recce patrols, section attacks, defensive ops, all that good jazz... let me tell you something Phase 3 takes all those concepts you learned and simply puts it on a bigger scale. The Procedure for conducting a Combat Patrol is essentially the same as conducting a recce patrol, the steps are all the same it just instead of using a four man team you now have a platoon, same thing goes for platoon attacks. Practice using a compass before you go on course, read over your weapons PAM's from CAP, review the combat estimate and battle procedure, all of these wonderful training aids and PAMS are available on the DWAN its great so use it. A lot of people didn't review shit all before coming on course and skill fade is a real problem, take the initiative and do a little pre-course prep you will be thankful you did.
3. Have Confidence in Your Ability, Take Everything as a Learning Experience
Ultimately, yes you are being assessed, but you are also there to learn. The Instructors are great and if you show them you have some drive and you want to learn they will help you. The Warrants have a wealth of experience as do the Captains don't be afraid to ask questions. When you do something always have a reason for it, the staff will challenge you to think critically but they are also want you to take charge and show that you can work under pressure.
4. Have FUN with Everything
Have fun with the stuff, take it seriously but play around with it, whenever your doing TEWT's think outside the box, don't just give the staff generic examples from the book play around show them you can think independently. Essentially whenever I do a mission analysis I treat everything as if my platoon is my "Orchestra of Death" and I am the Conductor. The stuff can be fun you just have to make it that way. Also have a laugh with the boys about stuff it really helps everybody get through the rough times.
5. Exercises are Finite, Grow a set, suck it up!
I hated seeing people 4 days into an exercise pull chute and head off to the MIR, firstly it not only f's your buddies over because now they have to pull extra weight but it also cheapens the experience, and you look really bad in front of the staff. Example of the last day of Hasty's I was Wpn's det commander, Mortar, M203, and had a radio because we only had 13 people left to finish off platoon attacks; when i got back a bunch of the other guys had copped out and went to the MIR when in fact basically nothing was wrong with them, they had "trench foot"... everyone had trench foot it rained for seven days. I am not going to rant about it, it is what it is, my advice don't be one of those guys.
Phase 3 is hard you will have struggles, but know this, there have been thousands of other people that have gone through it before you. Army courses are only as hard as you make them for yourself, just show up with good basics, a willingness to listen and learn, good physical fitness, and some good old drive you will do fine.
